SoRaspy: Diversity in the MLB

African-Americans arguably dominate the NBA and the NFL, is the MLB next? This year, the MLB drafted the most African-American players in the first round in the last 20 years. Seven African-American players were drafted in the first round of this year’s draft, the most since 10 African-American players were chosen in the first round of the 1992 MLB draft.

This is a major increase compared to last year where the only African-American to be drafted in the first round was Joseph Ross who went on to play for the San Diego Padres.

The MLB has made strides toward opening their talent pool to African-Americans by organizing urban youth academies and starting the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program. Will these programs be enough to increase the number of African-Americans in the MLB? Only time will tell.